Cable railway



(No Model.)

TjDUFFY.

CABLE RAILWAY.

PatentedMay 9, 1882.

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T. DUFFY. CABLE RAILWAY. v

Y No. 257,674.- i Patend May 9, 1882.

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UNIT-ED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

TERR'ENCE DUFFY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

`CABLE RAI LWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersY Patent No. 257,674fdated May 9, 1882.

Application filed February 11, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, TERRENCE DUFFY, of the city and county of San Francisco, State of t California, have invented an Improvement in Cable Railways; and I hereby declare the following to bel a full, clear, and exact descrip tion thereof. y

Myinvention relates to certainimprovements in cablerailways; and it consists in a device for keeping the grip-slot closed, which will protect the tube or tunnel from foreign substances, and yet not interfere with the passage ofthe grip and it consists, also, in cleaning attachments upon the traveling dummy, adapted to run within the slot and upon the road to keep them clear, so that the accumulations will not fall within the underlying tunnel while the dummy is passing and the slot is temporarily opened.

The object of my invention is to provide a means for keeping closed the grip-slot, so that dirt, and especially snow, ice, &c., which in,

cold countries are liable to render impractica- `ble the operation'of a cable railway', may not fall down into the tube or tunnel in which the traveling cable and its pulleys are operating. The presence of foreign substances when accumulated is very liable to clog and hinder the mechanism, and for this reason a cable tunnel with an open grip-slot has been considered imoracticable in places where there is snow and ice.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l shows a top view of the track, a portion of which is cut away to show the underlying closing-strip. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the track and car, showing the operation of the brush. Fig. 3 is a crosssection of the track. Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the car or dummy. l

LetArepresentany suitable form or construction of a tube or tunnel inthe ground, in which may be supposed the operating-pulleys and traveling cable of a wirerope railway. In or der to grip the traveling cable, and thus con neet the dummy or ear above with it, `asnitable grip passes down from the dummy through a slot, B, and clamps the cable. Heretofore this slot, known more definitely as the gripslot, has been left open for the unobstructed passage and travel of the grip-shank, and consequently along the whole extent of the road foreign substances can drop through into the each other in as short sections as desirable,

each piece or section being capable of a side movement without affecting the others, but altogether forming a continuous strip directly under the slot B. Upon one side are guides l), which hold the strips CC in place and prevent them from moving to that side at all. `Upon the other side are guides E, which allow the stripsC C sufficient play, so that when pushed over they will open the slot by removing entirely from under it. `Springsli F, suitably secured, operate upon each section ofthe strips C C to return it against the guides D, in which position it closes the slot.

Let G represent the dummy carrying a grip, of which the shank is H. Said shank is small enough to pass through the slot B. A suitable start is made upon the line, the grip-shank H extending down within the slot. As it advances it pushes to one side the jointed sections or strips C C, eachin succession, and each springs back to its place when relieved and closes lthe slot behind the passing grip. By making the sections short avery sm all portion of the slot will be opened at a. time. It will be perceived that these closing-strips are under the slot,and therefore the slot forms a basin or channel for foreign substances, which readily fall therein, and if not removed they will be dropped within the tunnel as the grip approachesand the closin g-strips move to one side. To provide fer this I have the following device:

Upon the forward axle of the dummy is an eccentric, I, around which is a band,t', attached to a jointed rod, J, which extends forward in a suitable guide under the car. It has upon its forward end a frame, N, with a cleaneiror brush,.

ICO

' `the slot.

Instead of a brush I could have a blade or knife, in case of ice being in the slot, and thus eut it out, and the arms L L could carry knives also. Theseknifeattachmentswouldonlyhave to be upon a dummy run over the road in the morning,or,whenevernecessary,whilethebrush could be used upon each. dummy. The foreign matter .is thus swept out ot the slot, and none will drop through when the slot is opened.

Having thus described Inyinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

I. In a cable railway having an underground tunnel or tube in which the cable travels and a grip-slot through which the shank of the grip passes, thejointed sections or strips C C under the grip-slot, and confined in suitable guides to close said slot, and to be moved to one side by the passing grip-shank and to return to position by meansot'springs F, substantially as described.

2. In a cable railwayhaving an underground tunnel or tube and a grip-slot through which the shank of the grip passes, the combination and arrangement of the jointed strips G C, guides D E, and springs F, substantially as described.

3. In acable railway havingan underground tunnel ortube and agrip-slot, thejointed strips C C, closiu g the said slot underneath and opening as the grip-shank passes, in combination with a cleaning attachment upon the dummy, said cleaner traveling in the grip-slot in advance of the grip-shank, substantially as and for. the purpose herein described.

4. In acable railwayhaving a tunnel or tube and a grip-slot, the jointed strips C C, arranged, as shown, to close or open the slot around the passing grip-shank, in combination with the cleaning device attached to the dummy, consisting of a cleaner, K, operating Within the grip-slot, and the cleaners ZZ on top, and attached to a frame, N, secured t-o the throw-rod J, operated by an eccentric, I, upon the forward axle of the dummy, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

5. In a cable railway, as shown, a cleaning device attached to the dummy in front, consisting ot' the cleaners K, traveling in the gripslot, and cleaners ll, passing on top of the road, said cleaners having a forward and return motion in addition to the progress of the dummy by means of the frame N, rod J, strap t, and eccentric I upon the forward axle of the dummy, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

TERRENCE DUFFY. Witnesses:

C. D. COLE, FRANK A. BRooKs. 

